much gratitude

jana11
jana11 Member Posts: 705
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Thank you for everyone's responses to my post. I actually starting feeling better as soon as I wrote the words down. But that is only because I knew what would follow. Warm fuzzies everywhere.

My husband and I had our 5th anniversary this weekend (been together 9 years) - my dad got us a nice hotel room last night. We had such a good time. The point of this small story... after I put my bathing suit on, I asked him if my thoracotomy scars looked too scarey (one on each side). He smiled and told me it just looks like the places where my wings come in and out. :) I really loved his interpretation of my scars. AND, Pete and I are not religious people; however, I love the thought that my scars are places for wings... ya know, making me angel-like. (not that I think I am an angel, WAY TOO MUCH sarcasm for that title). But such a beautiful image... I actually feel differently about my scars now.

I always consider my scars as ways of extending my life, including my ostomy. I never hated it. I simply felt it was a way of beating the cancer.... now, I almost see the back scars as attractive.

Rambling on...

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms. Wishing everyone their own warm fuzzies. Thanks for giving me mine. jana

Comments

  • jana11
    jana11 Member Posts: 705
    #2
    Another silly thing..

    I got my hair cut at an "upscale" joint (present from someone). ANyhow, the stylist told me my hair was sooo dry. I told him I use Dove products (because it is such a moisturizing soap). He laughed and said "no way". Soooo, he said the best cheaper products are L'oreal. I went all out to the discount designer store and got some Paul Mitchel moisturizing products... holy cow!! What a difference.

    To all the women (and men with longer hair) who are on chemo. Get some moisturizing hair products. The chemo really dried me out. And now... I look (more) fabulous (or at least it is how I feel with my hair so much softer).
    j
  • rthornton
    rthornton Member Posts: 346 Member
    #3
    jana11 said:

    Another silly thing..

    I got my hair cut at an "upscale" joint (present from someone). ANyhow, the stylist told me my hair was sooo dry. I told him I use Dove products (because it is such a moisturizing soap). He laughed and said "no way". Soooo, he said the best cheaper products are L'oreal. I went all out to the discount designer store and got some Paul Mitchel moisturizing products... holy cow!! What a difference.

    To all the women (and men with longer hair) who are on chemo. Get some moisturizing hair products. The chemo really dried me out. And now... I look (more) fabulous (or at least it is how I feel with my hair so much softer).
    j

    Happy anniversary, Jana. I'm glad to see that you feel better. You deserve to have a great anniversary.

    You were one of the first people I met thru CSN so I always thought of you as an angel. You were very encouraging when I was first diagnosed and was so freaked out. Your encouragement did a lot to calm my fears.

    I like to tell people that my colectomy scar, which is right down the front of my belly, is where the aliens pop out of me.

    Again, happy anniversary!

    Rodney
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #4
    Jana -

    You ARE an angel to so many people here. You bring wisdom, wit, humor, compassion, and great attitude to the board. You are an inspiration to all of us.

    (sorry to swell you head so much - you'll probably have to get another swanky haircut now - but it's the truth!)

    - SB (can we start a Jana fan-club?)
  • jsabol
    jsabol Member Posts: 1,145 Member
    #5
    Hi Jana,
    Glad to hear that you are feeling better; angel wings AND a new hairdo seem to be just the ticket. Thanks for the hair products advice; chemo sure did a number on my hair. After 2 years, my chemo curl is starting to fade, but the dryness goes on!
    continue to feel better and keep us posted. Judy
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #6
    Happy Anniversary! I LOVE anniversaries!!!!
    And, I, too, went to the hairdresser for the first time with my 1/2 inch long hair...and guess what??? I HAD IT COLORED!!!! She only charged 20.00....said she couldn't find enough to charge the total amount. And then she started slapping my head with the dye brush. When I asked her why, she said...'Those little 1/4 inch guys just don't want to lay down and get colored' (secretly, I knew that my hair has a wild streak...hehehehe). This was Friday, and it knocked my blues RIGHT OUT OF ME!!!
    Hugs, Kathi
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #7
    jsabol said:

    Hi Jana,
    Glad to hear that you are feeling better; angel wings AND a new hairdo seem to be just the ticket. Thanks for the hair products advice; chemo sure did a number on my hair. After 2 years, my chemo curl is starting to fade, but the dryness goes on!
    continue to feel better and keep us posted. Judy

    Jana, I had to laugh about the hair products. I spent a FORTUNE on any kind of hair product that I thought would #1, keep me from losing hair and #2 make it look like I hadn't lost as much hair and #3 make it less dry. It took about 2 hours each morning to get washed and dressed and most of that time was spent gooping up my hair!!

    NOW I spend a FORTUNE on skin products for my hands and feet!! I even have a hot wax machine set up to dip my hands and feet once a day to keep them moisturized!! I have special gloves and socks to sleep too! Whew! this chemo stuff really tires me out.

    Jana, Peter is a doll and you are certainly his special angel.

    I come back to Houston on June 12 for more tests...I forgot when you were moving...hope you are still there.

    Hugs,

    Kerry
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    #8
    Hi Jana,
    I'm glad that you are feeling better. Happy Anniversary!
    Jamie
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #9
    Jana,

    You are such a blessing to this board. You have helped me deal with so much while fighting your own battles.

    Happy anniversary!!!

    Hang it there, I know this is a difficult time for you.

    Maureen
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #10
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • JADot
    JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
    #11
    KathiM said:

    Happy Anniversary! I LOVE anniversaries!!!!
    And, I, too, went to the hairdresser for the first time with my 1/2 inch long hair...and guess what??? I HAD IT COLORED!!!! She only charged 20.00....said she couldn't find enough to charge the total amount. And then she started slapping my head with the dye brush. When I asked her why, she said...'Those little 1/4 inch guys just don't want to lay down and get colored' (secretly, I knew that my hair has a wild streak...hehehehe). This was Friday, and it knocked my blues RIGHT OUT OF ME!!!
    Hugs, Kathi

    With my chemo brain I am doing all kinds of cheerfully dingy things these days. So I tell people that I am a natural oxaliplatinum blonde :)

    No offense to all the blondes on this board at all!

    JADot
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    #12
    thank you for teh lovely posting- really beautiful.

    Took my 5 year old neice swimming last wekend. She had a thoracotomy as a new born for a meaky valve and still has a faint scar that she is still a bit self conscioius of. Together with my paratomy scar we decided we had teh complete package- a line from top to bottom and she decided we were 'scar siblings'. We wore them proudly together for the rest of the day.

    Cograts on teh five years- Kelly and my own five years is in December also nine years together (always been strangely amazed at some of teh parallels in our stories).

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